Metabo HPT Triple Hammer Impact Driver Review

Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Review

Metabo HPT 36V Triple Hammer Impact Driver Enters Second Generation

Out of dozens of the best impact drivers we’ve tested, the Metabo HPT MultiVolt 36V Triple Hammer Impact Driver is one of the most unique with its 3-hammer design. There’s now a second-generation version, the WH36DCM, and we’re seeing how it compares to its predecessor. It actually has a little more power than the Metabo HPT 18V Triple Hammer impact driver—and we’ve tested both.


Editor’s Note: Check out our Best Impact Driver reviews page for the most up-to-date results.

Pros

  • Much better fastening speed
  • More torque than the previous model
  • 5 total modes including bolt-specific and self-tapping screw modes
  • Compact design
  • Tri-beam LEDs
  • IP56 rating
  • Compatible with the MultiVolt AC adapter
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Good value

Cons

  • You can’t get as lightweight of a battery as 18V/20V Max systems

Metabo HPT MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Performance

Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Review

Traditional impact drivers have a pair of rotating hammers on the inside of the mechanism that strikes a pair of anvils around the outside to rotate the bit. The Metabo HPT Triple Hammer impact drivers add one more hammer and one more anvil. That means that you get more impacts at the same rotational speed as other impact drivers.

Metabo HPT boasts 1903 in-lbs of torque, 3700 RPM, and 4100 IPM driven by a brushless motor. The previous version (the WH36DB) has 1859 in-lbs of torque, 2900 RPM, and 4100 IPM. Effectively, we’re gaining a little more power and a lot more speed. What’s interesting in those numbers is that the impact rate doesn’t appear to be changing with the speed.

Five Drive Modes

Modes

You have five modes to work with: Soft, Bolt, Bolt Single, Power, and Self-Drilling Screw. Here’s how those modes look in terms of speed:

ModeSpeed
Soft900 RPM
Bolt/Bolt Single2900 RPM
Power3400 RPM
Self-Driving Screw3700 RPM

Soft and Power modes are your typical low and high. Self-Driving Screw mode starts slow for control, ramps up to full speed, and slows down as your screw tightens to avoid snapping the head off. Bolt mode runs at more of an impact wrench speed while Bolt Single tightens with about a second of impacting and shuts off.

Metabo HPT doesn’t offer any guidance on the torque and impact rates for each mode, but note that the fastest speed is the Self-Driving Screw mode. For the strongest performance, Power mode is your best bet even though it’s a little slower in speed.

Metabo HPT 36V Triple Hammer Impact Driver Speed Testing

Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Review

We put that muscle to the test with a few GRK 8-inch rugged structural screws and drove them into stacked OSB. It managed to fully sink the screws in 7.2 seconds, on average, which is over a full second faster than the previous model. While it’s still not challenging the best times we’ve seen, it’s a big improvement.

Overall, the Metabo HPT MultiVolt Triple Hammer impact driver is in the high-performing class and you don’t need to baby it when you have larger or longer screws to drive.

Metabo HPT 36V Triple Hammer Impact Design Notes

IP56 Rating

We don’t see too many impact drivers that showcase a lot of water and dust protection, but the Metabo HPT MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver has an IP56 rating. No one intentionally drops their cordless tools in a bucket of water but it’s one of the features Metabo HPT shows off every chance they get.

LED Light

Tri-Beam LEDs

It’s worth noting that Metabo HPT switched from a single LED light on the foot to a tri-beam LED configuration surrounding the collet. It’s a design that does a much better job of eliminating shadows. For those times you don’t need it, just hit the headlight button next to the mode change to keep it from coming on when you pull the trigger.

Size and Weight

Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Review

Compared to the wide landscape of impact drivers, Metabo HPT kept the Triple Hammer reasonably compact and light. It’s 4.5 inches across the head and gets into some impressively tight spaces.

As a bare tool, it weighs 2.0 pounds on the nose. However, the heavier 36V battery does bump up the weight a bit compared to some of its competitors. With the 2.5Ah compact battery, you have a 3.5-pound working weight.

Additional Highlights

  • Metal belt hook

Metabo HPT 18V vs 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver

Having used both the 18V and 36V Triple Hammer impact drivers, we wanted to compare them directly. We looked at size, weight, features, and performance.

18V WH18DBDL236V WH36DC
Speed0-2,900 RPM0-3,700 RPM
Impacts per Minute0-4,0000-4,100
Max Torque1,832 in-lbs
1,903 in-lbs
Speed Modes45
Weight (bare)2.0 lbs.2.0 lbs.
Weight (w/battery)2.9 lbs. (3.0 Ah 18V)3.5 lbs. (2.5 Ah 36V)
Price (bare tool)$129$189
Price (kit)$149$299

Starting with performance—the Metabo HPT WH36DCM runs at 36V. It’s similar to the 18V Triple Hammer in design but wired to use 36V MultiVolt batteries. It also includes some minor tweaks for the latest version. What’s nice is the battery is capable of running any of the Metabo HPT 36V tools or any of its 18V tools.

To break that down: the 36V WH36DCM can only use 36V MultiVolt batteries while the 18V WH18DBDL2 can use either 18V or 36V batteries.

As with all of the Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt tools, the 36V tool can also use the MultiVolt AC adapter and run corded when you don’t want to worry about runtime.

One area the Metabo HPT 18V Triple Hammer wins vs the 36V MultiVolt is weight. Both are just 2.0 pounds as bare tools. However, the 36V battery puts the working weight over 1/2 and pound heavier than using a compact 3.0Ah battery on the 18V model.

Metabo HPT 36V Triple Hammer Impact Driver Price

The Metabo HPT MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver retails for $299 with a pair of 2.5Ah MultiVolt batteries, a single port rapid charger, and a hard shell carrying case. This tool also carries a lifetime tool body warranty and a 2-year battery warranty. Considering what you get for the price, this is one of the better values among premium brands.

The Bottom Line

The big changes from the first to second-generation Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver include better top-end speed and a couple of bolt-specific modes that genuinely make it a better all-around fastening tool. If you’re working with bolts frequently or you feel the speed of the first generation is holding you back, it’s a worthwhile upgrade and you’ll notice the difference.

Metabo HPT MultiVolt Triple Hammer Impact Driver Specifications

  • Model: Metabo HPT WH36DC
  • Power source: Metabo HPT 36V MultiVolt battery
  • No Load Speed: 0-3,700 RPM
  • Maximum Torque: 1,903 in-lbs
  • Impact Rate: 0-4,100 BPM
  • Weight: 2.0 lbs (bare), 3.5 lbs (with 2.5Ah battery)
  • Length: 4.5 in.
  • Height: 7.5 in.

Click here to check out the full Metabo HPT lineup!

Click “Next Page” below to see our 18V Triple Hammer impact driver review!

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